Kellan Grady is looking forward to a senior farewell at UK tonight. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky assistant coach Chin Coleman said senior Davion Mintz’s character stands out above all else and praised his ability to make a difference while settling into a sixth-man role this season after starting 21 games last year.
“He’s been through some triumphs and obviously some hardships,” Coleman said Monday. “That’s just how college basketball goes. I think the kid is unbelievable and his character always shines through.”
“He’s been consistent in who he is and he’s what I call an everyday guy. He’s definitely going to be missed, but we have so much left to do. He’s a big part of all that we have to do.”
Coleman added his relationship with Mintz extends beyond the court.
“We talk about so many other different things,” he said. “He’s such a high-character, well-rounded young man.”
In addition to Mintz, another graduate senior — Kellan Grady — also will be honored tonight before UK hosts Ole Miss. Much like Mintz, Grady has no regrets about extending his college career at Kentucky. Grady went through Senior Day festivities at Davidson last season and is looking forward to being honored once again.
“It’s going to be just as meaningful,” he said. “This has been an exceptional year for us where we’ve cracked the top 5. We’ve had a lot of success. We’ve had some statement wins. And you’re playing on the biggest stage of college basketball at a blueblood.”
“I’m grateful to be here and I’m definitely excited about having a senior night in Rupp and experiencing that with my parents and doing it at a place like Kentucky. “
Kentucky coach John Calipari said Mintz and Grady have set an example for the rest of the team to follow this season.
“(Kellan) is a young man that gave everything he could to this program and was a great teammate, and I’ve said this before, good teams have good players, great teams have great teammates,” the Kentucky coach said.
“And he is a great teammate. I could say the same thing about Davion. They’ve given everything to this team. If they have to score or they get it going, fine, if someone else does.”
Gametracker: Ole Miss at Kentucky, 7 p.m., Tuesday. TV/Radio: SEC Network, UK Radio Network.
* * *
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. Reach him at Keith.taylor@kentuckytodaycom and via Twitter at keithtaylor21.
